JOY!

This morning as I came into work, I looked at my daily devotional calendar and it said "Our joy can be stable as the sunrise, even when circumstances put us through enormous stress." Wow! The sun rises every day doesn't it?

The subject of joy has been one of my favorites for the last 15 years of so. One reason is that it is so often misunderstood by God's people but once we understand it, it truly is our source of strength. I remember sitting in Bro. Kilgore's church many years ago and listening to a man teach a Bible Study. He was talking and he said, "God never promised us happiness because happiness is an emotion. But..He did promise us joy because it is the strength that will carry us through life." At the time, I really had to ponder what he was saying and it stuck with me. However, the next year we moved to Albuquerque to start a home missions church and were faced with several extremely hard years of loneliness, financial despair, and ongoing illness of our child, Jake. Jake was sick and hospitalized repeatedly for over eight years (maybe I'll blog about that soon). I've learned some of my greatest lessons from Jake. One vivid time is when he was confined to a wheelchair and couldn't walk. It was just he and I in a hospital room for a couple of months. He asked me one Sunday morning to help him get into his wheelchair so we could go to the hospital chapel and have morning service together. I felt so convicted because I didn't want to pray because I was so upset at life's circumstances. But, oh what a time of joy we found in prayer together in that hospital chapel even though I was still wheeling him back to a hospital room.

It was in life's stresses that I learned to live in joy and it has been the greatest journey of my life and one that I would not trade. A favorite passage about joy is Nehemiah 8. In this scripture, God's people had rediscovered the law of Moses. They asked for Ezra to read aloud God's law and stood for over three hours listening to the law of God. As they heard the law, the recognized how far apart from God they had grown as a people. Conviction began to sweep the crowd and they began to pray, repent, and weep. The leaders began to redirect the people after their repentenance. "This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep..Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:9-10). Then all the people...began to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them" (8:12).

After the time of repentance, the people spent an additional three hours worshipping and rejoicing. Many times we feel conviction and weep before God but do we take the time to rejoice and live in a victorious state? Knowing God, trusting God and obeying God brings great joy. Our enemy attempts to steal our joy by promising joy through self-indulgence. Life is hard so I'll have a pity party and a temper tantrum. Nope...life is hard, God is my strength. Yet Jesus taught us that obeying God's commandments brings the greatest joy possible: "If you obey my commands you will remain in my love..I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" (John 15:10-11). Instead of letting our circumstances dictate our state of mind, why don't we let our state of mind dictate our circumstances? Why do we go down in defeat before an already defeated foe? We crave happiness every day instead of the joy of the Lord. Life is coming at us each and every day and we won't have happiness but we do have a promise of joy that will take us through all of life's circumstances.

In the Book of Acts, the people were filled with joy in the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:52 says, "And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." In Acts 2:28, we read, "You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence." The Greek word of joy is, euphrosyne, meaning gladness, joy that fills you with rejoicing. It is exuberant joy! Joy produces strength, and in His strength, we can face anything. Instead of looking for strength from our daily lives so we can worship the King, why don't we worship the King and then have the strength we need for our daily lives. It really is quite simple and hear it from someone who has lived it through hard circumstances....joy drives circumstances...circumstances do not drive joy.

One of my favorite songs is Chris Tomlin's Holy is the Lord. Notice what the lyrics say about joy:

We stand and lift up our hands
For the joy of the Lord is our strength
We bow down and worship Him now
How great, how awesome is He
And together we sing

Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
The earth is filled with His glory

Create a Clutter Free Home

Anyone else have this problem?

Clutter all over the place?My dining area is the worst and almost every night it looks like this.I finally had enough of it so I gathered a few tips to help me get organized.I can't tell you how important it is to not let it get as bad as I did;because then you lose very important things like your friend's wedding invitation and the pretty little card that you were supposed to send back before April 25th to let her know you will be attending her wedding!


So,to make sure this never happens again when my other friend(you know who you are)gets engaged to her millionaire this year and she sends me the wedding invitation,I've looked for a few tips that can help me stay organized from now on.
There are several websites that have great tips to keep your home clutter free but this plan seems like it will work best for me.

1)Clear Flat Surfaces Daily.
Flat surfaces such as countertops, tabletops and sideboards act as magnets for clutter. Newsletters, books, magazines, coffee mugs, newspapers and various other items are absentmindedly put down and never retrieved or put away.
At the end of every day, check known clutter zones such as the entry table, kitchen countertops and coffee table for items that can be quickly put away. While this may take a little time initially, once the daily check habit is established this should become a task that takes less than 15 minutes to complete.


2)Leave the Kitchen Tidy
Stack the dishwasher and wipe down countertops at the end of each day.If there is no dishwasher and no time to wash the dishes, make sure that everything is stacked neatly ready to be cleaned the next morning. Wipe out the sink and wipe down countertops so that the kitchen is ready for the breakfast rush the following morning.


3)Establish a Cleaning Routine
Homes often become cluttered because there is no established cleaning routine. Many tasks take significantly less time if completed regularly.
Draw up a checklist for routine household chores and keep the list taped to the inside of the pantry or pinned to a notice board as a reminder. Set aside time each day to check the list and make sure that nothing has been overlooked.

4)Involve the Whole Family
Even toddlers can put away toys into a box or basket when they have finished with them. Older children can be responsible for stacking and unstacking the dishwasher, setting the table, changing towels and handtowels and helping to care for pets in addition to keeping their own belongings tidy.
Involving children in household chores helps them to establish their own good cleaning habits. Younger children may need some encouragement to become involved and there are a variety of ways to motivate them to take part including using reward charts or special treats occasionally if they take care of their responsibilities without complaining.

5)Sort and Discard
Clutter often results when a household simply has more items than it can easily store. If storage space is overburdened, consider sorting through clothing, children’s toys, kitchenware or other groups of items to clear out anything that is no longer useful. Garage/yard sales and websites such as eBay are a great way of turning these items into cash. Alternatively, donate useful clothing and household items to a local charity.

By making an effort to perform small tasks regularly, it is possible to reduce the amount of household clutter and create a more welcoming and organized home.

I've already started using some of these tips and I can't tell you how good it feels to finally get more organized.
I hope this post will be useful to you and if it is,remember to donate your things for our community block party this Saturday!
Oh and Neda if you read this YES I will be attending you wedding.Mark us down for four! :)
Hope everyone has a great Monday!
Sis Monica

In The Spotlight - Roberta Lamb Shields

I was so excited when Sis. Duvall asked me to do the "In The Spotlight" blog for the month of May. I got so much information from my Grandmother, I'm not sure how to say it all. I hope you enjoy this blog and I hope you all learn something new about my grandmother, Sis. Roberta Shields.

Born Roberta Pauline Rose on January 16, 1921 in Charleston, Texas, she is one of seven daughters.

The Rose family lived on a farm in Deport, Texas. Roberta was 9 years old when the Depression struck the U.S. Raising seven girls (Elsie Aubrey, Letres Cherry, Nellie Lee Kyle, Loretta Allen, Virginia Porter, Robbie Gilbert - Roberta and Virginia are the last surviving girls) during the depression era was hard on the family but God always provided. In order for her family to get by in those days her dad, William Woody Rose, would kill 7 hogs a year and her mom, Minnie Viola Rose, would can 600 jars of vegetables, peas, corn, pickles, etc., a year. Also, they would have syrup in a 50 gallon wooden barrel. Roberta specifically remembers that her dad raised dogs for the local Doctor. When they got to a certain age, the Doctor would sell the dogs and in this way all the medical bills were paid for the girls. There was no welfare in those days so the local community helped in any way they could. Her father died when he was 92 and her mother when she was 79. Our family will always remember them as Ma and Pa Rose. Of course, I never got to meet them (that I can remember) but I've heard many stories about them.


On January 10, 1939, Roberta married Wilson Lamb. They were farmers in Cunningham, Texas. She did everything on the farm. Picked cotton, baled hay, rode horses, milked cows, raised and unfortunately, I have to say; she did kill chickens for food. They raised three girls; Ellen, Rosie and my mom, Dorothy. They all remember picking cotton and working on the farm. Ellen was particularly afraid of chickens. According to Rosie, Ellen chased a rooster into the well and pushed him in with a broom. Needless to say, that was the end of that rooster....

It was during her marriage to Wilson that Roberta came to the Lord. Attending the Pentecostal Church in Cunningham pastored by Bro. Mark Malone, she was baptized in the Chanel which ran between Charleston and Cunningham. Remembering those times, she broke down into tears of joy and happiness at the memories. She will never forget that Bro. James Kilgore was preaching a revival at the time and 21 people were baptized that same day in the Cotton Gin pool.


Memories of God's provision and His miracles came to her mind and she cried reminiscing about it all. I have been blessed to hear these stories and I can only hope for the kind of faith people exhibited during that time.

Miracles and God's Provision in Cunningham



God wrought many miracles in the lives of the Lamb family in Cunningham. Here are some of those stories:

One day, while working in the cotton fields, Wilson got his foot hung in the power lifter on the tractor. He made it to the house where they laid him on the couch. They weren't sure what would happen to him. If he lost his foot the family would be in great trouble because his work depended on him being in good health. Roberta was very worried but knew who to turn to. She turned to God in prayer. She said it was like God whispered to her, "Go cook supper and pray." So, that's what she did. While in the kitchen cooking and praying she heard movement in the living room. She went to the door and saw that Wilson was up and walking around. That night they all went to church and his foot was fine after that. Even in his 70's, when he would tell that story, my grandpa would start to cry. He never forgot the healing he received.


Another story was one of my mother, Sis. Dorothy Kegley. Mom was about 5 1/2 years old when a doctor said she had TB. Well, my grandmother would not accept that prognosis so she told my grandpa to go to the Kilgore's house and have them pray. At the time, the Kilgore's were living in Paris which is about 25 miles from Deport. They took my mom and had them pray. When she went back to the doctor they said she did not have TB and mom has never been diagnosed with that again.

There were many more stories of God's miracles during her time in East Texas but I couldn't write them all here. She is very thankful for His hand on her life.

The Move to Grand Prairie

Wilson and Roberta Lamb moved to Grand Prairie in 1952 and started attending the Grand Prairie church pastored by Bro. and Sis. B.F. Lee. They had to move to Grand Prairie because Wilson got a job at Gifford Hill where he worked for 19 years. Roberta worked for the GPISD as a lunch room manager for 17 years.

The Lambs were some of the founding members of the GP church. Roberta worked tirelesly in the bus ministry for 10 years. Kenneth Aubrey (she said that Kenneth was the best bus driver ever) would drive the bus and Roberta would work with the kids. Sometimes, she would take the kids to her house to get them dressed. Even today, kids she helped on the bus remember her. At our first block party, a lady came up to my mom and asked where she was. She remembered her on the bus route. She still sees grown adults who remember her. Now, that tells me that bus ministry works!

Some of the things she would do for the kids were give them a slip of paper when they got on the bus. These slips would have $.10 cents, $.25 cents, and sometimes a dollar listed on them. When they got off the bus they would hand her the paper and she would give them what was listed. She did this all out of her own pocket because she loved the kids so much and wanted to minister to them. At times, she would have donuts and pints of milk for them. Does this sound familiar? I think what we are doing on Sunday mornings is awesome and it really does minister to them. What worked years ago still works today! These are things I didn't really know about my grandmother so I'm so glad I got to sit down with her and reminisce with her.

The Grand Prairie church was always her heart and she loved Bro. and Sis. Lee. She explained that when she first met Bro. Martinez she knew he would one day be the pastor in Grand Prairie. At the time, Bro. Martinez was attending Bro. Guidrose's church in Dallas but he came to visit Grand Prairie church and stayed. And, he did become pastor in 1988 until his retirement in 2008. Roberta has remained faithful to the Lord and faithful to Grand Prairie through all the years. She is so excited about the future of Grand Prairie church and looks forward to the ministry of Bro. and Sis. Duvall. She loves them very much and is thankful God sent them our way!

In 1994, Wilson Lamb succumbed to cancer and passed away on February 15th. Thus, ended a marriage of 54 years but Roberta still has the hope that she will see him again one day in Heaven. After about 4 years of being alone, she married Yantes Shields on January 17, 1998 and is thankful that God provided him to share her life. Yantes is a WWII veteran and was in the Army from 1942 until 1946. He was at Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. What a blessing he has been to our family. I thank God that He sent Yantes to our lives. God is good!

There is so much more to say and I wish I had the words. She is of the generation that says, "Ok, so this happened, and this happened but I still trust you Lord". That is strong faith and I admire that. That's a "I still trust you, Lord", kind of faith. They were brave then and I hope that we, as modern women of God, can take lessons from them and realize that we can have the same faith demonstrated by my grandmother and others of her generation. We could learn a lot from the senior generation!

I hope you enjoyed this blog (sorry it's so long) and I hope you look forward to the next one.

Love you all,
Kimmie

My thoughts on prayer for Thursday!

Before I say anything else I want to say how much I love all the ladies of First UPC of Grand Prairie. What a privileged it is to be serving God and sharing my life and my family’s lives with you all. Each of you has already brought something to my life that no one else could have. I could write and write and write of all those things but…. I need to move on to prayer. Now the second thing I must say is please have a little mercy on me this is my first blog. I have wrote my thoughts on some of the social apostolic networks I have been on and have always felt a little intimidated because I really never knew what I was doing but one of the things I have learned about all of my sisters of Grand Prairie is that you all are very patient, kind and helpful. So here we go.

What is Prayer? This is a question I love to ask in kid’s church because I always get such a simple, uncomplicated answer. If I was in a room full of adults and asked them the same question I would bet (if I was a betting woman) that I would get a very detailed, complicated, three part answer. I would most likely be the person to give the most complicated answer.

I have realized in my prayer life that the answer is very simple. I don’t have to come to God with all the right words, or the perfect place to pray or even at the perfect time. There was a time in my life that if I didn’t pray first thing in the morning then I felt like I missed my time with the Lord as if God is only available from 6-7 am. It is necessary to have a set time for prayer every day. The most wonderful thing I have done in my prayer life is allow God to call me to prayer at any time so I have my set time and then I am available all times for him to use me in prayer. There are times when he calls me to prayer that are so incredible that if I was to tell you, you probably could not even believe it. But the invitation by God is so amazing because it really isn’t the invite it is the place he takes me and then the end result. What I mean is when God moves on me to pray other than my set time he is already there waiting for me and then we begin our journey together. Sometimes it is a sweet start and builds to a place of battle and then I may feel a little worn but he then offers a chance to be rejuvenated and that happens after the battle I enter a place of praise. It is an incredible experience if you have never experienced this I recommend it. It is simple to do you just have to say God whenever you want me here I am and I want to be used to touch you for someone else. Because I very rarely enter this type of prayer for myself or my needs, usually my set time for prayer is for my petitions, for my family, my church family and people who have asked me to pray but when I get that invitation sometimes I never know who it is for because God is so strong on me I can’t do anything but pray in the spirit and other times I know who it is for and he will allow me to see a result of that answer to his invitation. Don’t miss this opportunity because it is incredible. I know I have said it so many times but it really is. Allow the invitation, respond to the invitation and watch and see the results. I love all of you so much. I hope you have a wonderful day and I can’t wait to hear the results of when you respond to your invitation.

More on Prayer to come

Sis. Kim

In The Kitchen Wednesday!!!!

Welcome to...

In The Kitchen Wednesday

this is where we will share ideas/tips/recipes/stories and our love for food......

I think Sister Duvall asked me first because I am the Oreo Truffle Queen....or because I already have a food blog....or maybe it is because I LOVE food.... either way, I am happy and honored to get to do this!

I get the whole month of May.....sooo here we go....

Today the Food For Thought is...... saving money.

We all like to go out to eat, and a lot of us eat out at least three to four times a week (especially after church with all of our church family). However, it isn't pocketbook friendly to spend $40 4 times a week....that is $160 a week on food that you don't finish, take it to go, then forget to eat the leftovers before they go bad....(well that is how it works at my house) Do you know what kind of damage I can do with $160 a week!!?!?!?!

Here are a few of my tips (tried and true) to saving money in the kitchen.

Coupons Coupons Coupons!

They DO work people...you just have to know how to work them. I have done a written a blog on this before about how I saved double what I paid just on things I use everyday.
There are many many many ways to organize and use coupons. The way I do it is I go to http://www.thegrocerygame.com/ and there it will let you know which exact coupon to use and how to best use the sales....the website will give you directions and such.. The basics are

clip the coupons
file them according to where they are located in the store
get the weekly circular of your grocery store
find the sales (note some stores double and triple coupons)
match the coupon to the item on sale and go have a good time saving cash!

Leftovers

Make sure you use your leftovers! Especially the meats because in a meal that is what is most expensive (most times) Here are a few things that are made for dinner, and how they can be turned into a leftover/new meal.

Meatloaf = Sloppy Joes / Spaghetti

Roasted Chicken = Chicken Salad Sandwiches / Chicken Tortilla Soup

Roast = Hash / Smothered Beef and Rice

That is just a few things I can think of off the top of my head...but I will share more if you need them.

Snacks

Kids snacks are oh so important.. but something I learned early on is this...make sure you get your kids and yourself snacks you WILL eat. Not ones you HOPE to eat because you want to be healthy or eat better. I have wanted the kids in my home to eat more healthy. So I bought all sorts of fresh veggies and fruits. Come to find out they only like to snack on peaches and green apples and sometimes grapes. So all the celery, carrots and other things I would buy would go to waste (that is if I can't incorporate them into my dinners). It is important to get the kids to try new things so pick a theme each week, buy that item and go for it, don't try a billion new veggies this week and waste your money on it. In fact look at the sales ad at your local store, and start with the things on sale. This week strawberries, next week melons....prepare them different ways, (on top of yogurt, sliced, in a smoothie etc.)

A few random tips of the trade ..

Don't go aimlessly to the store with your coupons. This is the way to actually spend more. Going without a gameplan will cause you to use a coupon because you have it rather than bargain shopping for cheaper namebrand or storebrand item. Just because you have a coupon doesn't mean it is the best deal.

Read up on the double and triple coupon rules. Some stores require you to have a "card" specifically for their store in order to get double and triple coupons. Some store will only double and triple one coupon and the rest are at face value...be educated.

Buy some things bulk. You can go to Costco or Sams Club and get a membership. (you can put two people on a membership at both places, so go in with a friend and that way you just have to pay half.) I buy most of my canned veggies, dinner meats, and paper products in bulk. I can still buy this stuff if it is on sale, but when I buy bulk I know I won't run out.

Also buying bulk, if the bulk is too bulky for just your little family, again take a friend, make a list of things you both need, buy it and split it, that way you won't waste what you don't use, and you save money too.

when out to eat.... get two side salads, one for you and one for your honey....then split a main dinner. You can do this also with your kids...two or three small kids can split an adult meal/appetizer and it comes out cheaper.

Bring an after church snack with you, and on your way to dinner or lunch after church, munch on it, that way when you get to the restaurant, you can order a small appetizer, split the meal, or even just snack on chips and salsa and save money as you socialize.

Don't forget there are coupons and deals at restaurants as well. Like Don Pablos has a Habeneros club you join and you earn free food, and dollars off on a meal.


With all of this, you can save your family money and utilize your refrigerator to it's fullest capacity! Use the coupons, use the leftover, snack smartly, and remember random money saving tips will leave extra dollars in the bank...and because we are talking about the kitchen...here are a few products you can save the saved dollars for....

Kitchen Aide Mixer

Gidgets and Gadgets to help you bake

Aprons

New Dish Set

OH WAIT....that is MY wish list....nevermind, think of your own use for that saved cash!

Have a great Wednesday, see ya next week!

Layla :-)

God's Provision

It is such a great honor to be part of the ladies of First UPC Grand Prairie. My heart is overwhelmed often when I think of my sisters. We have been endowed with special blessings from God to have such unity and oneness in kinship. I look forward to our blog postings. If you are a blogger and want to join in, let me know!

My initial plan was to write a devotional to the Proverbs 31 woman. One of my favorite topics but as I sat down to write, God laid something else on my heart.

In these tough times, God's Provision is enough for us. The tough times we are facing are not only financially but also emotionally, physically, mentally. We are surrounded by stresses of life that take our time and we become weary. We are surrounded by a lifestyle that causes us to eat unhealthy and live in a worn out state. We are surrounded by the snares of this world that cause us to begin to doubt each other, our God-called ministry, our effectiveness, our purpose. BUT....we have hope that far exceeds this present world. We have been called out of the world and those things which would so easily beset others are able to be overcome by the child of God. Can I take a minute of your time and tell you what our God tells us about His provision?

Financially: He will provide!

I am reminded of the story of Elijah. In 1 Kings Chapter 17 there was a drought in the land as a result of the words that the prophet Elijah spoke whereby he told King Ahab there would be drought in the land and it would only lift when he commanded it to lift . The Prophet Elijah was told by God afterwards to go by the brook Cherith and he should drink water from the brook and he would command the ravens to feed him both bread and meat so Elijah obeyed God and went to the brook. Elijah drank some water from the river and ravens came to him with meat and bread and as a result he was able to survive. We have to remind ourselves that God has ALWAYS provided for His children. Recently I shared a story with my Covenant kids about a good friend of ours...Kevin Blake. Bro. Blake was raised in Africa as a missionary's kid. He has told us many stories of how God provided for him. However, he shared one with us that is such a blessing. Bro. Blake's mother has a very sweet tooth. When they were on the missions field, she would crave sweets but it was hard to get sugar to bake. He said they had a barrel out in a shed that they stored sugar in and his mom would send him out to get a cup of sugar for baking. After retrieving the sugar one day, he came back into the house and told his mother that he had scrapped the barrel and there was no more sugar. To his surprise, the next day, his mom sent him out for sugar again. As a young boy would do, he argued and said, "Mom, there's no sugar. I emptied the barrel yesterday." His mom insisted that he go out and scrape the sides and sure enough, he was able to get a cup of sugar. This routine continued for over a month and he was always able to fill a cup of sugar. After a period of time, they received new provisions in the mail and he could not longer scrape ANY sugar from the barrel because God had sent a new barrel. See...God not only provides for us, he gives us the desires of our heart!

Emotionally/Mentally: Jehovah Shalom

We are surrounded by media and tragedy. The world today would seek to make us believe that there is no hope. Depression is increasing in our nation. However, a child of God does not have to fall prey to the snares of this emotional pit. We have in this earthen vessel...hope. Hope that we are overcomers, hope that we have answers, hope that we will make it. God has provision for you emotionally and mentally. Psalm 37:5 says, " I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken Or his descendants begging bread." (NIV). The enemy would try to make us feel "forsaken", alone, empty. But, the Psalmist says he has never seen the righteous forsaken. I have to agree. Talk to an elderly person who has walked with God for many years. I guarantee you that you won't find one who has kept on the path tell you that God has forsaken them or that they have seen God not provide emotionally. You may be wondering how God will provide for you when you feel like you can't take another step. He provides for you through fellowship. Fellowship in prayer, the Word, and with each other. One of my favorite passages is Psalm 142. Notice how despondent it begins but how at the end the answer is found in praise.

1 I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy.
2 I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble.
3 When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me.
4 Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.
5 I cry to you, O LORD; I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living."
6 Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.
7 Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.

From the beginning of time, the enemy has tried to separate the people of God and make us believe that we aren't cared for by our brothers and sisters. Recognize this trap! You are loved, you are needed, and God does have a ministry for you! But...you must take the first step to trust in God's provision by giving Him the praise and walking into His fellowship.

One of my favorite speakers is Dr. Randy Carlson. Dr. Carlson talks a lot about intentional living. He says, "Intentional Living is a "No Excuse" zone, where we focus on taking good intentions, and acting on them in order to make them reality. Ephesians 5:10 says it this way, "Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it." Is there something - ONE THING - you could do today that would please Christ and make a huge difference in your life? You can do it." I agree! We can do it. What can YOU do today that will bring you closer to Christ and closer to each other? Pick up the phone, send a text, tell someone how much you love them. Hug that child and remind them they are called of God. Live intentionally as a child of God.

Until next week....
Sis. D.

5 Ways To Make Your House a Home

Hello ladies I'm so excited to be joining everyone today and every Monday for the month of May.Monday's topic will be on Family and Home and I wanted to share an article I found the other day.
5 Ways To Make Your House A Home
By:Dionna Sanchez

Furniture and Belongings Never Make Up For Love!
So, here are 5 ways that you can make your house into that warm and loving home you desire.

1) Maintain an open door policy

Make your house inviting to family and friends by letting them know they are welcome in your home. Encourage them to stop by to say hello or to visit with you for a few minutes. Let them know you value them as a part of your life. A closed home is a lonely home!

2) Fill your home with fresh aromas

Let the aroma of compassion, kindness, gentleness, love, joy, patience, etc permeate through your walls. Homes need to be a haven, a place where people can feel secure to be themselves. Someone who smells these character qualities encompassing your home can't help but hunger for more!

3) Hold a consistent family dinner hour

Make sure your family sits together at the table for dinner each night (or at least regularly) so that you can share together, laugh, and bond. It doesn't matter what else is going on in the world if you can all connect as one family unit each day.

4) Keep your home picked up - but let it be "lived in"

It's a great thing to be organized and to take pride in your home. In fact, your family will benefit from these traits. But it's just as important to not let that organization run your life. If a home is so immaculate that everyone is afraid to relax, what good does that do anyone? A good reminder to help you keep your focus balanced is to think of what you would do if you opened your door to find Jesus there after He'd walked for miles on a dusty road. Would you allow Him to enter in His dirty sandals?

5) Slow down!
Fast-paced lives are the biggest thieves of family time these days. Friends are important but you need to make your family your priority not your social activities. Make time to create memories together in your home.
I want a home that has laughter,tears,quiet moments,social gatherings and more filling every corner with memories and legacies.I want my children to remember a home that was a refuge for them and somewhere that they could be themselves.
I want something "real" to be felt in my home.Don't you?


Wasn't that a great article?That is so true,I always thought that because I don't have a big house or nice furniture I couldn't have anyone over.I was always too embarrassed,but what's more important to me now is having a warm and inviting place for family and friends to gather.
That's been kind of hard to do lately having sick kids for the past few weeks.Here are some tips I wanted to share that I use around my house to stop all the germ spreading.
1.Make them a comfortable place for them to rest with their favorite blanket and pillow.For kids put a basket of things they can use like books,games,markers( etc.).

2.Make sure they wash their hands several times a day especially when they are coughing and sneezing a lot.

3.Use lysol to spray to kill germs on doorknobs,faucet handles and light switches.

4.Once they start feeling better,replace their toothbrushes.

5.And last,here's a recipe for ginger tea that I found in one of Sister Freeman's books Keeper of the House.
1 teaspoon of powdered ginger in a cup of hot water sweetened with honey.
She says it will stop a cold or flu if you catch it in the early stages.Several cups are needed in more advanced stages.
My kids usually only drink a couple of spoonfuls because it tastes so bad but it really does seem to help them.
Well,I hope you can use some of these tips in your home,I enjoyed sharing them with you!
Have a great Monday!
Sis.Monica